St. John Cathedral to suspend services on finances

PROVIDENCE – The Episcopal Cathedral of Saint John in Providence announced Tuesday that it is suspending its services this spring due to a lack of financing.

The Cathedral said it was suspending worship and pastoral services, with the last service to be held April 22 at 9:30 a.m. There are 52 Episcopal churches in Rhode Island, six of which are in Providence.

“The Cathedral congregation has experienced serious financial difficulty, and a decision was made to suspend services for now,” said the Rt. Rev. David Joslin, acting dean of the Cathedral, noting that the financial situation has been “evolving for many years … [and] now needs to be addressed.”

“This decision, of course, was not made lightly or quickly. It does not permanently close the Cathedral; it only ceases the usual Sunday services and pastoral care,” he said.

The building at 271 North Main Street will retain its status as the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, “serving as the seat of the bishop, the central place of pastoral and teaching ministries for all Episcopal churches in that diocese,” a news release said.

The Cathedral of Saint John was established as King’s Chapel in 1722 and the name changed to Saint John in 1794. The church became the official seat of the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island in 1929, becoming the Cathedral of Saint John, according to the news release.

Get the most up-to-date data on the Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts business community from the PBN List Center. Download and purchase PBN Lists as well as the complete Book of Lists in Excel format.